Start a new calendar on the ATP circuit with the Australian Open around the corner, where the best tennis players in the world will go in search of the first big title of the year, except for Carlos Alcarazthe number 1 in the ranking, who had to give up due to injury.

In the preview of the competition the German tennis player Alexander Zverev He participated in a trivia game in which he had to predict what would happen this year: personal goals, breakout players, who would break a racket first and when asked about a risky prediction, the 25-year-old athlete made a controversial prediction.

“Rafael Nadal will sadly retire after Roland Garros. I don’t want that to happen, but I think he’s going to have a great tournament, potentially win it and take the opportunity to say goodbye,” he told the outlet. Eurosport.

It’s a surprising statement about the current second best player and the most Grand Slam winner, with 22 titles.

In the past, the Spaniard has been shocked on more than one occasion by rumors of his retirement. “Lately every time I come to a press conference it seems like I have to retire it’s like they are very interested in what happened“, he came to say.

“Don’t go through with it because I’m here to play tennis and it’s not time to retire yet,” the 36-year-old told the United post-Cup conference. Will you like Zverev’s prediction?

The first Grand Slam of 2023 begins

The first big of the year is coming: The Australian Open kicks off this Sunday with great matches for the first round.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal will make his debut against Briton Jack Draper, while Alexander Zverev will do the same against the Peruvian Juan Pablo Varillas. Novak Djokovic, another of the candidates, begins his journey in the match against Roberto Carballes Baena, from Spain.

This will be the start of the Argentines

Diego Schwartzman vs. Oleksii Krutykh (UCR)

Francesco Cerundolo against Guido Pella

Tomas Etcheverry vs. Gregoire Barrère (FRA)

Federico Coria vs. Marton Fucsevics (HUN)

Sebastian Baez vs. Jason Kubler (AUS)

Pedro Cachín vs. Pablo Carreño Busta (ESP)

Facundo Bagnis vs. Daniel Evans (GBR)